Latch operating mechanism for automobiles



Nov. 15, 1938. c. KNOTT LATCH OPERATING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed March 51, 1936 \myzm Patented Nov. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LATCH OPERATING MECHANISM FOR AUTO- MOBILES 3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in latch operating mechanism for automobiles.

It is well known that frequent personal injury and considerable property damage result from projecting door handles of such vehicles.

With the foregoing in mind it is the principal Another object is to provide a door handle for automobiles which is normally countersunk in the door, swingable from its countersunk position to open the door and returned to its normal position as soon as released.

Other and subordinate objects are also comprehended by my invention as will presently appear when the following description and claims are read with reference to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification.

In said drawing:

Flgure 1 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of an automobile door having my improvements attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a similar view in vertical transverse section taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows and drawn to an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a view in vertical transverse section taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows. t

Figure 5 is a detail fragmentary view illustrating the operation of the handle and parts of latching mechanism to unlatch the door.

Figure 6 is a similar view further illustrating operation of the handle and latching mechanism, and

Figure '7 is a detail perspective view of a cam sleeve forming part of means for returning the handle to normal position, and also forming part of the latch operating mechanism. v

Describing the illustrated embodiment of my invention in detail, with reference to the drawing by numeral, I designates the front. anel of an automobile door 2 which according to my invention is provided near the front edge of the door with a depression or countersink 3 substantially semi-circular in vertical and transverse section and merging at its lower edge into a longitudinally shorter and shallower countersink 4 forming a socket provided with side walls 5. A squared spindle 5 is journaled horizontally in the side walls 5 of the socket 4 whereby it is located in the rear of the outer panel I and within the door. One end of the spindle 6 projects towards the front edge of the door and beyond the adjacent side wall 5 for a purpose presently seen.

Fast on the spindle 5 is a handle I having a sleeve part 8 fitting into the socket 4 and an open hand grip part 9. The handle I normally occupies a vertical upstanding position and, as shown in Figure 4, its outer face in this position is offset inwardly of the outer panel I under which condition it cannot cause injury or damage or become damaged. By inserting the hand in the countersink 3 the hand grip 9 may be easily grasped and the handle 1 swing downwardly to exert a pull on the door in opening the same. A sleeve l0 having a squared bore II is longitudinally slidably mounted upon the projecting end of the spindle 6 as shown in Figure 3. A coil spring [2 surrounds the spindle ii intermediate said sleeve and the adjacent side wall 5 of the socket 4 and has its opposite ends connected to a lug l3 on said sleeve and to said side wall, respectively, said spring tensioning the handle 1 against movement from normal position and yieldably holding sleeve II) in its outermost position. Obviously as soon as the handle I is released it will return to its normal position described.

In order to provide for latching and unlatching the door 2 by means of a handle constructed and arranged as described, the following mechanism is provided.

Slidably mounted in the front wall of the door 2 and in a bracket I 4 fast on said door and parallel with the spindle G is a latch bolt I5. Fast upon the bolt l5 and opposite to the sleeve III is an arm IS. A coil spring l'l interposed between the bracket l4 and the arm I 6 urges the latch bolt l5 outwardly. The arm l6 extends through a slot ill in a web I9 into proximity to the sleeve l0 and thereby normally abuts one end of the slot l8 thereby limiting outward movement of the bolt IS. The sleeve ID has formed thereon a cam lug 20 which in the normal position of the sleeve l0, spindle 5 and handle I is slightly below the arm H5. The construction of the ing 20 is such that when the handle I is moved downwardly substantially the arm l6, as shown in Figure 5, will be cammed rearwardly by said lug and the bolt ll drawn inwardly of the door and when said handle is moved further downwardly substantially 10' it will wipe Past the arm I I releasing the bolt II for movement back to normal position by the spring ll. Upon releaseoi thehandlel thelug Iliwillassumeits normal position relative to the arm it under the urge o! the spring it; while the handle is returning to its normal position the under side of cam 2| engages projection It and as the handle approaches its vertical position the projection It cooperates with cam II to cause sleeve ill to slide on spindle I compressing spring I! until the cam passes over the projection. The spring then returns the sleeve to its normal outer position with the cam 2| on the \mder side or projection It as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

1. Latching mechanism for automobile doors,.

7 comprising, a spindle rotatably mounted in the door in horlmntal position, the door having a recess therein into which the spindle projects, a handle fast on the spindle for rotating the same, a spring connected with the spindle and holding the same under tension with the handle in the recess in the door, a latch bolt slidably mounted in the door parallel with the spindle, an arm carried by said bolt. a cam carried bysaid spindle and slidably engaging said am for retracting said bolt when the spindle is rotated by withdrawing the handle from the recess in the door, said cam being disengaged from said arm upon retraction 01 said bolt to permit projection of said bolt in advance of returning the handle within said recess, and a spring for projecting said bolt after disengagement of said cam and arm.

2. Latching mechanism for automobile doors, comprising, a spindle rotatably mounted in the door in horizontal position and tensioned against movement in one direction, the door having a recess'therein into which the spindle projects, a handle last on said spindle for rotating the same, a latch bolt slidably mounted in the door parallel with the spindle for projection and retraction, an arm on said bolt, a sleeve on said spindle having a spirally arranged cam element thereon, said cam element engaging said arm during limited rotation of the spindle for retracting said bolt, said cam being disengaged from the arm upon further rotation 01 the spindle in the same direction, and a spring for projecting said bolt alter disengagement of said cam arm.

3. Latch mechanism for automobile doors, comprising, a spindle rotatably mounted in the door in horizontal position and tensioned against movement in one direction, a handle fast on the spindle for rotating the same, a latch bolt slidably mounted in the door parallel with the spindle for projection and retraction and tensioned against retraction, and a cam and arm for connecting said spindle and bolt together and adapted to slidably engage each other upon rotation of the spindle in said direction to retract said bolt, said cam and arm becoming disengaged alter limited rotation of the spindle to permit projection of said bolt, and a spring for projecting said bolt after said disengagement of said cam and arm. 

